MR F. W. FURKETT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1920, Page 4

MR F. W. FURKETT

ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF AND UNDERSECRETARY OE PUBLIC WORKS. Mi R. W. Holmes has already relinquished Hits duties as head ol the Publie Works Department, and Mr E. W. Eurkert, now Acting Uuder-Secretary ol Public Works and Engineer-in-Chief of the Dominion, will succeed to the dual position in due course, says the Wellington Dominion. Mr Eurkert joined the Government service as a cadet on March 12, 1891. In that year he headed the list lor New Zealand in the Civil Service examination, and was at once offered a cadetship in the Education Department, but before he actually took up office duties of any kind he was offered a cadetship in the engineering branch of the Public Works Department. After - being foi some eight months‘in the draughting rooms at the head office, Mr 1* urkeit was sent to Greymouth to assist in some railway road survey work, and was concerned in tlie Greyfnouth-liokitika and Jackson’s-Otira lay-outs. In 1897 he was transferred to the survey and construction party on the Main Trunk line, which was then working northward from Makatoto, and worked on that job up to Piriaka, junetioning with the northern party (under Mr Touch) in March, 1901. Whilst engaged on that task it was customary to come into Wellington during the winter months as work in the bush was impossible under the conditions then prevailing. During ene of these spplls Mr" Eurkert worked out an alternative railway route for the Hutt to the Wairarapa via the Wainui Valley and the Orongorongo, which is on the Department’s records. He was lor a time Assistant ami then Resident Engineer at StratI’urd, and in May, 1900, was transferred to Taihapo as Resident Engineer with practical charge of the central section of the Main Trunk railway. In order to be closer in touch with, this work Mr Eurkert shifted his headquarters to Ohakune, and was there until the railway was opened in November, 1908. In 1909 lie was promoted to be District Engineer at Dunedin, and during bis (regime was imirwadiately concerned In the construction of the Gatlins River, Lawrence-Beaumont. Oropuke-Waiau, lliversdalc-Switaer’s, and WaiinahakaTokanui railways. It was during his term at Dunedin that Mr Eurkert planned an irrigation scheme for a part of Central Otago. The Mount Ida Valley lias profited considerably by the scheme, and land which cost 10s per acre lias been made to yield £2O per acre profit. Mr Eurkert left Dunedin in 1912 to become Inspecting Engineer for the Dominion, and last year was appointed to the position of Assistant Engineer-in-Ch ief. Mr Eurkert it is interesting to record, is a native of Ross.